Refrigerator



Aug. 26, 1924. 1506,70]

' v C; P. WHITTIER' REFRIGERATOR P'ilpd July '7, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 82 33 Z 33 32 l J as 3 M 4 Q 64 2 :34

INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY wag n -r 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 flFW Z'ffzer INVENTOR ATTORNEY C. P. WHITTIER REFRIGERATOR Filed July '7, 1923 Aug. 26 1924.

Aug. 26, 1924. 1,506,701

c. P. WHITTIER REFRIGERATOR Filed July 7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W qr 2 J f 10 759 JO.

WITNESS:' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES CHARLES 1P. WHITTIER, F DALHART, TEXAS.

REFRIGERATOR Application filed. July 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Gimme P. WHITTIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dalhart, in the county of Dallam and btate of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerators and contemplates a structure zvherein cold air is permitted to circulate through the various compartments of the refrigerator, the air being either introduced into the refrigerator from a cold air pipe, in which instance the use of ice is eliminated, or in warm weather when ice is used, the air is cooled in the ice chamber which subsequently passes around the various compartments of the refrigerator, the construction being such as to minimize the consumption of ice and at the same time maintain the refrigerator at the proper temperature.

An important object of the invention resides in providing a piece of fabric which is adapted to be kept in a moistened condition at all times and thereby aid in cooling the air which passes through the refrigerator and brought in contact with this fabric.

In carrying out the invention, I provide the refrigerator with means whereby a cold air pipe and ventilating pipe can be easily coupled with the refrigerator when their use is desired, such as for instance in cold weather, and also providing a door which controls the course pursued by the cold air when the cold air pipe is used.

The nature andadvantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the refrigerator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section view therethrough showing the refrigerator used with the cold air and ventilating pipes.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the refrigerator used without said pipes.

1923. Serial No. 650,079.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the refrigerator with the back wall removed.

Figure 5 is a top plan view.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner of closing the openings which receive the cold air and ventilating pipes.

Figure 7 is a section showing the hinged door construction at the cold air inlet and outlet.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the fabric element.

f Figure 9 is a view of the support there- Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates generally the refrigerator, which is provided with a food compartment 11 in which is arranged supporting shelves 12, and also with what may be termed a cooling chamber 13 arranged directly above the food compartment and separated therefrom by means of a partition 14. The refrigerator is further constructed to rovide a chamber 15 arranged directly be ind and parallel with the food compartment, and spaced. therefrom by means of a vertical wall or partition 16 which is spaced at one end from the bottom of the refrigerator to establish communication between the said compartments. This wall 16 which in reality forms the rear wall of the refrigerator has an opening extending across the same as at 17 to establish communication between the compartment l5 and the cooling chamber 13, this communication is controlled by a hinged door 18. The top wall of the compartment 15 is provided with an opening similar to an opening provided in the top of the refrigerator, and both openings are closed by disk like covers 19 of a size to be received by its particular opening, each cover being carried by a hinged plate 20. The plate 20 is extended beyond the cover and bifurcated as at 21 to receive a latch element 22 which when subsequently turned at a right angle to the plate 20 holds the cover within the said opening.

As above stated, the refrigerator is designed to eliminate the use of ice in cold weather, at which time cold air is permitted to circulate through the refrigerator to keep the latter at a proper temperature for the purpose intended. When used in this manner, a cold air pipe 24 has one end received by the opening in the top of the compartment 15, subsequent to the uncovering of this opening. Any suitable means may be employed for the purpose of coupling the pipe to the top wall of this compartment, and the said pipe can communicate with the atmosphere, or receive cold air from any other suitable source and convey the air into the compartment 15. As this compartment communicates at its lower end with the food compartment, the cold air circulates through the refrigerator passing upwardly into the cooling chamber '13 and thence out through a ventilating tube or pipe 25 which rises from the refrigerator and communicates therewith through the opening in the top thereof above referred to; When used in this manner the door 18 is closed to cut off the communication between the cooling chamber 13 and the compartment 15. With this door in its closed position, the air leaving the cold air pipe is forced to pass downwardly through thecompartment 15 and thence upwardly through the food compartment, until it finds its way to the ventilating pipe 25.

To assure the passage of fresh cold air through the refrigerator I employ a partition 26 which is wholly disposed within the compartment 15 and arranged diagonally therein as clearly illustrated in the draw- I ing. This partition has the major portion of its body cutaway to provide anenlarged opening which may vary in size and configuration, and supported on this partition and covering said opening is a piece of canvas 27 or other suitable fabric which is continuously moistened. This partition 26 is provided with hook like element 28 at suitable points and which elements receive rings or eye members 29 carried by the fabric 27, so that the fabric can be quickly attached to the partition or removed therefrom when it is necessary to clean the same or for any other reason. The partition has its lower edge formed to provide a water receiving trough or channel 30 leading from which is a small drain pipe 31 which passes through the partition of the refrigerator. It might here be stated that the rear wall of the compartment 15 is removable to permit access to be had to this compartment when necessary, and which wall has its lower edge received by hook like elements 32, and also provided with pins 33 which are arranged to be engaged by hinged keepers 34 carried by the sides of the refrigerator. The fabric just mentioned is moistened by the flow of water from the cold air chamber 13, a small pipe 35 leading from this cham: ber into the upper part of the compartment 15 Arranged within the chamber 13 is a water container 36 provided with a faucet 37 and by opening the latter to the proper degree, the desired amount of water can be continuously admitted to the cold air chamber 13, from where it passes to the compartment 15 directly onto the canvas or fabric 27. The water receptacle is supported by a false perforated bottom 27. As the water flows down off the canvas or fabric it is received by the water trough formed on the lower edge of the partition 26 and conveyed therefrom through the drain pipe above mentioned. Manifestly, cold air when admitted to the compartment 15 from the cold air supply pipe, strikes the fabric when passing through the compartment 15 and is thereby moistened and kept in a cold fresh condition while it circulates through the food chamber and into the cooling chamber where. it also tends to keep the water in the water container in a cold condition, the air finally leaving the refrigerator through the ventilating pipe 25.

In warm weather ice is preferably used in the cold chamber 13 at which time use of the cold air supply pipe 24;, the ventilating pipe 25 and the water receptacle or container is dispensed with. When these pipes are separated from the refrigerator, the openings in the top of the refrlgerator and in the top wall of the compartment 15 are closed by the covers 19 in the manner shown and described. The door arranged between the cooling chamber 13 and the compartment 15 is open thereby establishing communication between these parts. Of course when the refrigerator is used in this manner, the cold air circulates around the cooling chamber 13, passing from the latter into the compartment 15, and thence entering the food compartment at the bottom of the refrigerator as clearly indicated. As this air passes through the compartment 15 it is moistened and cooled by coming into contact with the wet fabric or canvas, which is maintained in this condition by the water which flows from the cooling chamber on to the canvas in the same manner as the water from the water receptacle above described. This water of course is furnished by the melting of the ice, but the entire construction of the refrigerator makes it possible to keep it in a very cold condition continuously with the consumption of a minimum amount of ice.

While it is believed thatfrom the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A refrigerator comprising a food compartment and a chamber arranged above the compartment and communicating therewith adjacent the front wall thereof, a cold air compartment arranged at the rear of the food compartment and communicatin therewith adjacent the lower end thereo the top of said compartment and the top of the refrigerator havin openings therein, aventilat' pipe rising om the opening in the top of t e refrigerator, a cold air supply pipe communicating with the cold air compartment through the opening in the top thereof, means for closing said openings subsequent to the removal of said pipes, a piece of fabric arranged within the cold air compartment and extending diagonally 15 across the same, a water container arranged within said chamber, a faucet carried by the container to admit the water into the chamber, a drain pipe leading from the chamber into the cold air compartment for conveying the water onto the fabric to maintain the latter in a wet condition and means establishing and controlling communication for the circulation of air between the said chamber and the cold air 26 ature. ER. 

